TNWA unveils a New Service for Asia/Europe: the New Europe-China Express

The New World Alliance (TNWA), which consists of APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, unveiled its eagerly anticipated new service between Asia and Europe.

The New Europe-China Express (NEX) is the fourth Asia/Europe service for TNWA and will provide faster transit times between many points in Europe and China.

With the NEX, customers for the first time also now have a direct service between Qingdao, China and Hamburg.

"In addition to being one of the most competitive," said Chris Bourne, Managing Director of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Europe) Ltd., "The NEX is also one of the most comprehensive routes in the industry serving China, south Asia and Europe.

The NEX commences on June 8 with the sailing from Qingdao of the APL France. The fixed-day-of-the-week calls will include Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Aden, Hamburg, Antwerp and Southampton.

"With the NEX, we are complementing the TNWA's already comprehensive global network while continuing our expansion into the European market," said Ken Soerensen, APL President for Europe.

"Through the Aden port call, the NEX provides customers with enhanced access to India, Pakistan and the East African markets," Soerensen added.

Along with the addition of the NEX, TNWA has refined three of its services: the Japan Express (JEX), Asia Express (AEX) and China Express (CEX) to best manage capacity and improve efficiency.

Beginning on June 4, the M0L Integrity will kick off a revamped JEX that includes a Yantian port call. The new port rotation is Kobe, Nagoya, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Yantian, Singapore, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton, Le Havre, Singapore and Kobe.

On June 2, the Hyundai Independence will cover the revised AEX that includes a new port call in Port Kelang, Malaysia. The new port rotation is Kwangyang, Pusan, Hakata, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Kelang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton, Colombo, Singapore, Kong Kong, Kaohsiung and Kwangyang.

To make room for the Antwerp port call on the NEX, TNWA is removing the CEX port call at Antwerp.

JH Lee, Hyundai Merchant Marine Europe President, commenting on the new arrangements, said, "We and our partners in The New World Alliance have worked hard to arrive at these significant enhancements to what we provide to our customers, and I am happy that we are introducing a service of the NEX's caliber that will lead the way with regard to Asia/Europe."

In all, The New World Alliance operates nine fixed-day, weekly services in the Trans-Pacific, plus two more Asia-U.S. East Coast services recently added in conjunction with Evergreen Marine Corporation. In the Trans-Atlantic and Asia-Europe trades, TNWA has three and four fixed-day, weekly services, respectively. The three-member carriers co-ordinate some 100 containerships in major container trades.